davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05
The Monitor.

About midnight strange small craft came
and anchored beside the Minnesota. The
Confederates who saw her next morning said
afterwards she looked like a black plank with
q Yankee cheese box on top. The mysterious
small fiat object was John Ericsson's Mentor
and this was her trial trip She had come
into the roads that night just in time to hear
thelast of the caianonading. Her commander
was Lieut., John L. Worden, u. S. N.
The "Yankee cheese box" that the Confed-
crates saw wSa revolving tower or turret,
twenty feet "a diameter and ten feet high,
l@mb proof Inside were two 1a-inch Dahl
gren cannon, which could be turned end
aimed i'm any direction through the portfolios
of the tower The guns were revolved with
power from the double cylinder engine that
propelled the boat. The deck of the vessel
was nearly level with the water, and down
under this all the crew stayed except the
two who worked the guns within the turret
The boat was sharpened at both ends, 124 feet
long, 81 feet wide, and had a double hull
The upper hull projected all over the lower
one, and protected anchor, rudder and screw
propeller. The whole top was decked over with
heavy iron. The top of the turret was of rail-
road bar iron, arm0red over with iron plate,
holes being left for ventilation. To get at the
Monitors machinery, and damage her, SHOT
would have to pass through twenty feet of
water and then strike slanting heavy iron
plate Thus there was nothing sho, could
touch except the Fat deck or the turret or
the low fiat pilot house, which latter was as
heavily built as the turret The smoke stack,
also protected with heavy iron boxing, was
built telescope fashion with slides that soui..
be drawn within one another when the vessel
was in action
| There was no way to get into Der except
down a ladder through the turret, one man
at time. Such was The invincible little
demon Of war that came down to meet the
Merrimac. She was built in 100 days out
and out.
7 The Merrimac and Monitor fight was no
exception to Tho rule that the great ca tties
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05
MERRIMAC AND MONITOR
Story Of One of the Great Naval
Engagements of the World.
A FAMOUS SUNDAY FIGHT.
The Gray Bearded Pilot OF Tho Merri.
mac Describes the Baltic.

The Confederate Ram Mcrrlmac Accom-
plisIied Greater Work Of Destruction
in Single Half Day Than Amy Other
War Vessel Ever BuiIt--But She Gould
NCt Whip Capt. JOHN Epicsson's Mon
Itor-Battle of The Iron tCIads, march
0, asO&.
On the shores at the moath Of the blue
Chesapeake tins time'of year tho air is mild
rs June Salt breeze ana pine forest mingle
ana give II Dracing fragrance. Fig trees and
fringy cape myrtles live outdoors the year
around 1t lis one of the most delightful
spots Of the earth. Visitors to Old Point
Comfort and Fortress Monroe slinger on day
after day. Travellers stopping at the great
bOteleast'of the fortress sit hour by hour in
the verandas Anon they change and take a
sail over the bright waters with the captain
Everybody calls him the captain. Heis a
hale, gray bearded man with a keen eye and a
strong frame. He has been about the Cgesas
penlse and Norfolk bay more years than a
good many'of ourireaders have lived. Year
after year, too, while the loiterers sit and
gaze, now at the blue sky, now at the softly
rolling breakerswhich are even as blue, they
ask the captain to tell themthe story Of thu
Merrimac and the Monitor fight.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

carefully. Presi- LIEUT.. woRDEN.
dent Lincoln visited him, and wept at
sight of the blinded hero who had done so
much. The gallant officer finally recovered
his sight. Nobody else in the Monitor was
hurt
The Minnesota had been terribly shattered.
A shot from the MerTimac had exploded the
boiler of the tug Dragon, scalding several
men The Minnesota, by throwing over
board some guns and other heavy articles,
and by attaching several more tugs to pull
and strain at her, got out of her mud bed
Monday morning and went up under the
shelter of Fortress Monroe.
In the two days fighting the Federal
forces lost nearly 400 men and two valuable
ships; the Confederate forces lost thirteen
,nen. The Monitor was struck with shot
twenty-five timeS one of which damaged the
pilot house somewhat. The Merrimac's long
iron bow had been twisted when she ran into
the Cumberland. Two of her guns were
broken, her smoke and steam pipes and flag
staff were shot AWAY, and as she steamed up
Norfolk bay IL was seen that she sagged at
the stern.
@But what did the Monitor and MerrimsS
do nextw "They never came together again, 7"
said the gray bearded captain. "lhe$ watched
around there a good while, the -sSerrimac pro-
tecting Norfolk and the meath OF the james,
the Monitor protectingIhe Chesapeake. Once
in while each one would come out and
scream arouna with her steam whistle awhile
mighty sassy, pretending 20 challenge. But
II tie other seemed likely to take it up that
one backed off in hurry. One was afraid
and the other dassent"
The MeIIimac was destroyed in May fol-
lowing by her own commander. Josiah Tat
nall, to prevent her from falling into Federal
hands The Monitor foundered In a gale of
Cape Hatteras, the last day Of the year 1862
and was lost.
The figh. of the Merrimac and Monitor has
taken its place as one Of the great naval en-
gagements OF the world.
The employment of vessels wholly armored
with iron revolutionized sea warfare.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

The little Monitor followed in her wake,
and when the Merrimac turned her iron beak
forward, there was the cheese box directly
between her and the Minnesota. The stern
guns of the Minnesota opened on the ram,
but she was invulnerable Ii her sides had
been perpendicular, some Of the fifty great
shots which struck her from Capt. Van
Brunts guns on the Minnesota, must have
penetrated her.
AS the ram approached the little Mont.
tors turret guns began to revolve and fire.
The ram answered with q tremendous broad
side. One conical shot from the huge Arm
stroEg gun penetrated the Monitors turret
part way, but the bolt broke off and re-
manned sticking between the bars Of railroad
iron, bent and fattened. The relic Is still
preserved. Other shot from the ram flew
around and over the Monitor without effect
The little raft steamed around and around
her ponderous foe, seeking point of attack
But there was none. They pounded at each
other tremendously, neither hurting the
other.
The Merrimac, finding she had made no i'm
preston ON the Monitor, turned her guns once
more upon the Merrimac and made savage
attack, which told terribly. At that moment
the little Monitor steamed up and placed her.
self between the ram and the Minnesota. The
Merrimac changed her position and once more
the big ram and the little turTet ship grappled.
The sMerrimac grounded and the Mime
sofa trained her guns directly upon her.
She got afoat and turned towards Norfolk,
the Monitor after her.
Suddenly the Merrimac turned like an ami
NAL maddened and headed with all her force
directly at the Monitor, seeking to run her
down. The iron beak grated over the level
deck and the little raft came up serenely
ready for fight again. The Merrimac was
more damaged than her antagonist. One
heavy shot penetrated the armor of the ram.
There was more maneuvering and more can
nonading at close quarters, when suddenly
the firing ceased.
The Merrimac and her attendant fleet
headed up the bay. At the same time the
Monitor turned and steamed down the bay
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

Of our war occurred or Sunday. 50 did the
battle of Waterloo, and manly other great
fights the world over.
Sunday, March o, about 30 clock In the
morning. the sloplng roof Of the tremendous
ram doomed up through the haze, and bore
down upon the Minnesota With her were
her attendants Of the day before, the Con-
federate gunboats Patrick Henry. James
town, Raleigh, Beaufort and Teaser. To-
gether they carried eleveu guns In the
battle of the day before Commodore Blu
ehanan had been severely wounded by
shot from the Congress, and Ia the ac-
ton of March 0, the command devolyed
upon his first officer, Lieut. Catesby Jones
Thepowder division on board the Congress was
In charge OF Paymaste, Mexican Buchanan,
brother OF The commander OF the Merrimuc.
Only one thing had prevented the dcstrnc-
ton Of the Minnesota In the action OF Satur-
day, and that was the fact that she was
grounded Ia water TOO shoal for the Mer-
rimac 70 come near her. Her misfortune had
proved her salvation
AT the approach of the Merrimac and her
tenders on Sunday morning the drums Of
the Minnesota beat to quarters. Away down
under water the crew OF tho little Monitor
got ready for tight
A strange scene in naval warfare then took
place. The gray bearded captain at Old
Point Comfort tells IL as though Il happened
yesterday. The Monitor was only one-hftl
the size of the Merrimac and of very mucl
lighter draft.
The Merrimac steamed up past the Mime
sofa toward Fortress Monroe. Then she
turned and prepared to come straight at Tho
Minnesota
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

Thetcaptain was the pilot of the Merrimac
chat day off Hampton roads, March y, 1862.
The MeBpimac was aline new steam frigate.
When the United States officer, Commodore
McCauley. set Gre to his own governments
navy yard at Norfolk and burned the ships,
the Merrimac was among those fired and left
10 consume. This was April 81, 1861.
But the Merrimac was not entirely de-
Gtroyed. She was buTnedto the copper line
Then She sank. To raiSeAher again. to fit her
cunt ASA war vessel, was NOT task of very
great,difiiculty for the confederate govern
nnent Her exterior pattern was changed
somewhat In armor plating her, and other
wise fitting her for naval warfare, the Con-
federates.a affixed to her bows long, powerful
iron beak. In brief, when the refitting was
done, and the Merrimac was turned out
OF the Norfolk or Portsmouth navy
yard she became the steam ram Vir.
ginia, the terror of every United States
ship af1oat. Streaming mp, head on, she was
able 30 send her long, swordfish beak crashing
through the sides of the strongest wooden
ship. Thus, attacking vessels one at time,
the Virginia WAS prepared to Vanquish the
whole United States navy and commercial
marine. What is more, she had been fitted
up in tho United States governments own
navy yard, Of good iron and steel belonging
TO the nation.
The new putterm given TO her was the idea
of Lieut. John M. Brooks, hirlselfa United
States naval officer who had taken the Confed-
crate side The battering ram or false bow ex-
tended out ahead of her 33 feet. She,had two
powerful engines below the water line. Her
roof and sides were covered with ouIv over two
feet thick, and upon this WAS plated iron 6
inches through. The ram in front was also
composed If oak and iron. The vessel was
armed with several great guns for those days,
carrying shot Of faNn 81 to 400 pounds, and a
12O-pound shell
Such was the ram Virginia. She is better
known, however, the world over, by her for.
Iner name, the MerriUase, and that Ks the
.iame which will be used il. this story.
Last but noe least, she was directed by lex
United States officers, men who had been
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

Warn her. They were the
steam frigates Minnesota and Roanoke, and
the sailing frigates Cumberland and Congress
The appearance of the Merrimac had come to
be looked on as something Of a joke. Van
Brunt, captain of the Minnesota, wrote homa:
ave ART tired of waiting for the Merrimac
and wish she would come out"
He had his wish presently to his hearts
content
Hampton roads is an inlet of Chesapeake
bay, between Fortress Monroe and Norfolk.
The james river empties into it, also tn.
Elizabeth, on which the navy yard lies. The
bay or indentation gets its name of roads, F."
or a roadstead for ships, on account of its
depth Of water. being scarcely anywhere less
than twenty-three feet 1t is about 1--WE miles
across
The Federal vessels lay about the roads not
very near together.
Erhe Minnesota and the Roanoke wcro herr
near Fortress Monroe. tho Cumberland and
Congress were off yonder south, near the
mouth Of the Elizabeth river says the cap
tain,
About noon, Saturday. March s, the Fed
oral iookouts saw something coming down
tbe Elizabeth river. 1t was, in fact, three
thInes. AZ tley. presently moved nearer. 1t
- three steamers. Two of them were ofii-
nary eunboatA The other was aqueer looking
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

to W rds Fortress
Monroe. That was
the end of the ia
nous duel between
the Merrimac and
the Monitor.
Lieut.. Worden,
in the pilot house
of the Monitor,
was blinded by
some cement which
was thrown into
his eyes by q shot
W hich struo ok
rely in the
peephole. He was
taken to Washing
ington and tended
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

AGENTS Wanted Everywhere. Most
liberal terms. s. w. PEEK.
Prop'r Hartwell Nurseries
II Hartwell Ga.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

=
She had DESTROYED
two powerful YES
sells, carrying three
times her number
of men, and fully
six times her weight
of armament" Tho
Federal vessels lost
quite $50 men that
Sth of March, 1862,
It he Confederates
only 10. Would
the terrible MelTi-
mac come back
next morning and
dactuou tho Minna
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

among the bravest
and most expert
enced i'll the Unien
navy. Her COM
mander was Capt
f + a II kiln Blu
chanan. He had
b e e II thirty five
years in the United
States navy.
The Merrimnc
had been on the
tongue OF rumor
for weeks Four
ships of the Federal
navy lay in Hamp-
ton roads watching
her, They were the
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-05

sofa and Roanoke2 Not much sleep for
officers and men on those frigates lying there
Fast aground that night.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
Pretty Near It.

The promoters of the Duluth. HUI
ron & Denver are going right ahead
with their plan with very little
noise. A gentleman who has Just
returned from trip over Minnesota
and Dakota says the grade of the new
line is now complete from Water
town to Benson paralleling the new
Manitoba extension, the two tracks
being not more than mile apart.
The grade is also completed nearly
to Sank Centre. 1t is the intention
to iron the line from WATERFOWL to
Sank Centre this fall and also to
complete the grade from Watertown
to Huron ready for tie iron next
year. Next season the line will be
pushed toward Duluth through
Little Falls and past the southern
end Of Lake Mile Laos. The people
of Huron who are the movers in this
scheme, are bent on having a direct
road to Duluth and from consola-
tiou of she map it would appear they
are laying out almost an air line.
The principal shops will be located
at Benson,
The above item from the Little
Falls Democrat is pretty nearly cor
rect. excepting: the grade is not CON-
pleted from Watertown to Benson: it
does not parallel the new Manitoba
extensien;it is not the intention to
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
Coal That is Coal.

The following price list for coal
for August delivery only, in thi:
village has been published by the
Pioneer Coal Co., and is subject to
change on September Ist:
Lackawanna, per ton, 50 o5
Piston, 0 o.
Cross Greek Lehigh 9 &c
The first two grades are equal to
any sold in this market, in every par.
ticular, while the latter is conceded
by all who have usedft to be far bet.
ter and we'll worth the difference in
price.
This coal is remarkable for its
great purity, its durability, its free
dom from clinker and its small per.
centage of ash. 1t is mined in the
heart of the Lehigh region, and no
expense or trouble is spared in Its
preparation.
1t must not be COMPOUNDED with
the product of the Lehigh Coal and
Iron Co., which is an inferior article,
but is the product of the very best
mines in the anthracite region of
Pennsylvania owned by the Lehigh
railroad company. The Pioneer
Fuel Go. have the exclusive sale of
this coal in the northwest. acting as
the direct agents of the mine owners,
and owing their own docks at Du-
1uth. You make no mistake when
you purchase this coal. Leave your
orders with
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
The Windsor House,

Under Its new management num-
Der OF important Improvements have
already been made in the Windsor
Hotel, and still others are in con-
temptation. The new proprietor,
Mr.. Gro. b. Worden, knows how to
keep a hotel, and he proposes to do
it. He will supply the table at all
times with the very best the market
affords, and will serve it in the best
style. The rooms are all well fur
nished, and every bed in the house is
new, clean and comfortable. The
house is rapidly gaining In favor,
the trade increasing day by day, and
it now enjoys liberal patronage. The
stable accommodations are all
that could be desired, and our farm
erfriends will find this just The place
for them.
The rates are moderate, dollar a
day, or four dollars per week. Mr..
Worden says that if he can't give
satisfaction he will not ask for the
patronage of the public.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
The New Railroad,

The Dulath, Huron & Denver road
has its emile work Of grading SO
nearly completed that twenty days
will suffice TO make it ready for tack
laying. The only remaining c0n-
tract, that west of Appleton. WIS let
on Monday TO Anderson Il Nelson,
who have CON pleted their WORK near
Grove Lake. Over nundred adj
ditional Teams have been pat to
work within the past ten days, and
as many more viii be put onto the
grade within a week. The bridge
crew is making rapid progress and
will reach Grove Lake this week.
There are several bridges of con-
siderable length to be built, one
eleven hundred feet long, and three
or four ranging from three to seven
hundred feet. a crew is ut work
east of the village locating the line,
under J. A. Stanton of Stuk Rapids.
The indications are that the road
will pass north of Mile Lacs Lake,
in order TO avoid the Indian reser-
Walton. In that case the Mississippi
river will be crossed near or above
Little Falls.
Judge Caldwell and Chief Engineer
Roberts went out over the line west
ward this week. dispensing green
backs all along the line. Track lay
Ing will commence before the middle
of October, and it is believed 1T can
be completed 10 the State line with :
in thirty days from the beginning of
the work.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
PRINCIPAL and Proprietor.
Coal.

Consumers of coal should CON-
mence now to give the matter OF
tteir winters supply careful censid.
GRAFTON. We shall keep in stock a
supply of coal for our customers, of
all kinds, and orr coal is guaran-
teed to be tile best i'm market. We
purchase from the Northwestern
Fuel CO., largest dealers in the west,
and with their facilities for doing
business, they certainly would not
pat an inferior article on the market.
This company has occupied the field
for years, and purchasing in i'm
mense quantities, they can and do
give their customers the benefit of
every discount possible.
We guarantee to furnish our Gus
toners with the best coal at the very
lowest prices, and on the strength of
such guarantee we respectfully soli-
cit your trade.
How Bros. & Co,
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
Department {,
W. W. BRADEN,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Back Again.

John Metzger is once more back
in the traces, has dOnned the white
apron, and is prepared to fill all
orders for cut, dried and smoked
meats, vegetables, and game in
season. He will make an effort to
keep strictly prime butter and fresh
eggs always on hand, and to that
end will pay the highest cash price
tor them.
John has had experience IN pur-
chasing and selling, and does not
propose 10 be out-done either il
quality or variety. lie will give the
market his undivided time, and by
square dealing and close attention to
the wants oil his customers feels con-
fident of liberal patronage.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
LOCAL RECORD.
THURSDAY SEPT. 90. 1887.
Pay the Printer.

i
The reports is going the rounds
OF the press that the postal law
makes it larceny to take a newspaper
and refuse 10 pay for it. A news.
paper In Illinois recently bret suit
against forty-three men who would
not pay their subscriptions, and OBJ
tanned Judgment in each for full
amount of the claim. Of these
twenty-eight men made affidavits
that they owned no more property
than the law allowed them, thus pre-
venting attachments. Then they,
under decision of the supreme court,
were arrested for petty larceny, and
bound over in the sum OF $500 each.
All but six gave bonds, while six
went to Jail. 1t makes no difference
TO what pant of the continent the
paper goes, a bill sent TO the post.
master, justice of the peace or any
United States officer can be collect.
ed,
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-09-22
Notice to Grand Army Hen.

The committee on transportation
has selected the Minneapolis and 81.
Louis Railway, commonly known as
the albert Lea Route" for the
transportation of the comrades of
the G.. A. II. of this department to
the National EBcampnent at st.
Louis. The tain viii leave st. Paul
OH Sept. %, at 3 o'clock p. NJ, and
Minneapolis at $50 p. NJ. 1t will be
special for the use of the COM
rades and their friends; will be suit
ably decorated and have ample sleep
ing and dining room cars for the
accommodations of all. Ii is expect
ed that good band will accompan
this train. The fare will be SIS. IS
from st. Paul or Minneapolis to St.
LOUIS ard return. Comrades can
join the train at any point on the
route, and obtain tickets elsewhere
in the state 10 St. Paul or Minneap-
oils on payment of full fare one
way. The same rates apply TO all
other routes leading to st. Louis.
The headquarters of this department
will go over the Albert Lea Route,
and be established ut rooms 50 and
50 in the Southern Hotel OF Sept. 26.
All comrades are requested 10 re-
port there immediately on tn cir al
rival. Tents will be pitched in all
the parks for such as may desire to
occupy them - comrades furnishing
their OWN blankets. The grand pa.
rade will occur On the 9th, and viii.
without doubt, be a most imposing
and magnificent pageant. Com
rades will, as far as possible. appear
il Grand Army uniform. Il is es-
pecially desirabls that all those vino
intend going by this train should no.
tify the Assistant Adjt. Gen. ut St
Paul, or COmrade Robert Stratton at
Minneapolis, in order that suitable
accommodations may be provided
for them.
Comrade John b. Sanborn is here
by appointed chief marshall, and will
have charge of all arrangements con-
nected with the graad parade by the
Department of Minnesota.
Comrades T. Seibold, of St. Paul,
and Edwin Dunn, of EyOta, are de-
tailed as color guard, and will have
charge of the department colors.
by command of
l.. l.. WHEELoCK,
Department Commander.
w. w. BRADEN,
Assistant Adjutant General.